Lots going on

Well, many of you know that Ryan has had a rough road during his almost 4 years of life. He really has done so well. He is a tough little guy. He has made it through two stomach surgeries, one foot surgery, mutiple tests and hospitalizations, gosh I know there is more just cant think of it all. Well, about a year ago, a fantastic doctor that is no long in practice found that Ryan has an Immune Defficiency. It was really by accident, I think. I was telling her that he is sick alot and how it starts in his sinuses. She wanted to do some blood work, and ended up checking his Immunoglobulins and they were low. His Igg and Igm were the ones low. So that lead to some blood work being sent to Mayo clinic. What the doctor said was that he didnt build any antibioties to the immunizations that he received. Normal kids build up those antiboties to protect them from disease, but essentially Ryan is hanging out there without protection. So he was set up at St. Jude for IVIG(gammagard). Its a product derived from other peoples bone marrow, it goes through a filtering process, and then goes to the person that needs it. It is kinda scary, although it does go through that filtering process you just never know. So, Ryan had his infusion at St. Jude 45 weeks ago, and did well to begin with. After 3 1/2 hours they turned the rate up, and he reacted. He was shivering, breathing fast, sick, it was awful. I describe it like reacting to Chemo, but without getting Chemo. So they medicated him again, and decided not to give him the full dose. It took 9 days for him to get back to normal. I dont know who parents of children that have cancer, keep up with the side effects. How awful. After that Ryan started infusions at home, once a week. I put needle just under the skin in both hips and infuse a medication called Vivaglobin. Less side effects, and seems to do well.

So there is the history, Ill be telling more of this later. Why he is on his way to Memphis. Off to fix breakfast to this growing boy on a Sunday morning. I think we may head to Pearce to swim.

Have a blessed day
The Kunkel's (Becky & Ryan)